The Gannon University men’s soccer team extended its shutout streak to four games over the weekend, blanking Slippery Rock and Shippensburg University.
The two victories – 2-0 over Shippensburg Friday on the road and 4-0 over Slippery Rock Sunday at McConnell Family Stadium — left the Knights as the only Pennsylvania State Athletic Association team unbeaten in conference play.
Gannon, 4-3 overall and 4-0 in PSAC play, will look to stretch its shutout streak to five when California University of Pennsylvania visits McConnell Family Stadium for a 6 p.m. game Wednesday.
The Knights’ 4-0 win over Slippery Rock gave the school its 16th victory over The Rock in the all-time series, which started in 1968. But Slippery Rock still holds a 32-16-1 edge overall.
Against Slippery Rock, Sam Thornton struck first for the Knights in the seventh minute off Baran Kilic’s pass. Thornton beat Slippery Rock goalie Matt Hunsberger in the top left corner of the net.
Kilic and Thornton continued their attack in the 30th minute as Kilic chipped a ball through the middle to a sprinting Thornton for a second goal.
Opening the second half much like the first, Gannon made it 3-0 when Abdullah Say recorded a goal off a long ball across the box from Tyler Martin.
The Knights’ Ben Andrews capped the assault with his first goal of the season off Kevin Lemin’s pass.
Thornton led the Knights’ attack with three shots and a pair of goals. Mehnaoui had three saves as well.
In Friday’s road win over Shippensburg at David See Field, the Knights scored a goal in each half, and that’s all they needed.
Cameron Alexander kicked off the action with a shot less than two minutes into the match. The shot was blocked, but Chad Barrick sent another shot soaring into the back of the net at 2 minutes, 5 seconds to give Gannon a 1-0 lead.
With 20 minutes left in the second half Declan Bingham fed Ivan Manfredi for the Knights’ second and final goal.
Mehnaoui fended off Shippensburg’s eight shots on goal to keep the shutout streak intact. Barrick and Manfredi scored their first goals of the 2018 season.
Shippensburg held a narrow edge in shots over Gannon (15-14) and shots on goal (8-5).
The Knights hold a 10-2-1 all-time record against Shippensburg dating back to 1988.
Gannon has scored 12 goals over its last four matches while holding its opponents scoreless.
Following Wednesday’s game against Cal U, the Knights will host Urbana University of Ohio at noon Saturday at McConnell Family Stadium.
KEEFER GREGOIRE
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